North Korea has abruptly canceled a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of taekwondo’s official naming that was scheduled for mid-June in Pyongyang, Daily NK has learned.
The cancelation comes amid reports that North Korea has paused overseas activities linked to the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) as part of a broader restructuring effort, suggesting the regime is revising its “sports diplomacy” strategy.
Multiple sources told Daily NK that North Korea officially notified ITF organizations worldwide about the complete cancelation of the anniversary event. In its message, North Korea said the event (originally scheduled for June 12-19) was canceled due to “unexpected but unavoidable circumstances.”
“We take this opportunity to offer our sincere apology for being unable to fulfill your desire to visit the fatherland (North Korea). We are deeply grateful for all your effort in preparing for this event and trust we have your full understanding,” the message stated.
The cancelation appears directly linked to organizational changes happening inside North Korea rather than being a one-off decision. The ITF headquarters in Pyongyang has used unofficial channels to order ITF organizations in some countries to temporarily suspend or adjust their activities.
These measures align with a sweeping overhaul of North Korea’s athletic organizations and a review of their funding scheduled for the second half of the year. North Korea appears to be auditing and reforming various overseas organizations—particularly those linked to foreign currency generation—as it prepares for next year’s Ninth Party Congress.
“Before the Ninth Party Congress, the party has ordered closer scrutiny of athletic sector organizations that earn foreign currency and assessment of cash flow there. This can be seen as the first stage of restructuring in response to numerous whistleblowers who have claimed in recent years that foreign currency earnings are being underreported or embezzled,” one of the sources said.
Broader restructuring behind the cancellation
During the Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il eras, ITF activities became North Korea’s signature form of sports diplomacy. But the regime now seems to be making internal reforms and adjusting its diplomatic strategy due to eroding control over overseas organizations, weakening discipline among officials, and declining organizational effectiveness.
The restructuring efforts at ITF headquarters in Pyongyang will likely impact ITF organizations in other countries, either directly or indirectly.
“If North Korea goes beyond canceling this event and considers dissolving the organization, that could damage the ITF’s prestige and create rifts in ITF organizations worldwide. North Korea is aware of this and may refrain from taking such a radical step,” one of the sources said.
“(The ITF) is an organization with considerable political significance given its direct connections with the supreme leader (Kim Il Sung), so they won’t move to dissolve it completely. Instead, restructuring will likely proceed in stages focusing on leadership and overseas organizations,” the source added.
While some have speculated that North Korea’s moves are connected to the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea, in 2026, the source dismissed any link between them.
“We don’t regard WT (World Taekwondo) as a Korean martial art. The only Korean form of taekwondo is the ITF,” one of the soures said, adding that the event’s cancelation “is completely unconnected with the WT championships,” which North Korean athletes “aren’t planning to attend.”
